p u r d u e - o h i o
s t a t e
p r e v i e w
game suspension earlier in the season,
running back Carlos Hyde's been on a
tear, coming off a 147-yard, two touchdown game against the Nittany Lions
and a performance against Northwestern in which he pretty much saved Ohio
State in the fourth quarter, totaling 168
yards for the game and three secondhalf touchdowns.
Ohio State's multi-faceted running
game is dangerous, but so is its passing game, with big-play receivers Corey
Brown (seven touchdowns) and Devin
Smith (six), a couple players Hazell
knows well, having been involved in recruiting them.
The Buckeyes' passing game has
been coldly efficient, completing
70-plus-percent of its passes — whether it's been Miller or outstanding backup
Kenny Guiton — recording 24 touchdown passes to just four interceptions.
"They're explosive," Hazell said.
"… Their offense stretches the field
both horizontally and vertically and
we have to do a good job. You have to
stop the run."
And Purdue will have to run, something it did with some measure of effectiveness at Michigan State, against its
No. 1-ranked run defense.
Purdue will not want to put Danny
Etling in compromising positions.
The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten with
20 sacks. Purdue's given up 20, 10 of
them between the past two games in
Etling's two starts.
But if Etling has time, Ohio State
does have an apparent vulnerability.
"What's been somewhat of a concern is the Buckeyes' defense," Maks said.
"In particular, its secondary has really
struggled from the get-go. Before (Penn
State), Ohio State had gotten gashed in
the throwing game against just about
all of its competent opponents — California, Wisconsin, Northwestern and
Iowa. Such a deficiency nearly cost the
Buckeyes against Northwestern. Simply
put, before the game against Penn State,
Ohio State had not looked as dominant
as I think it expected to be." j
What You Need To Know About
Saturday's Opponent
BY GOLD AND BLACK STAFF
WORTH NOTING
R As it's been for Purdue so much of
this season, pressure will be an issue when
the Boilermakers face the Buckeyes.
Ohio State leads the Big Ten with 20
sacks, including four this weekend in its 6314 dismantling of Penn State.
The Boilermakers, meanwhile, have allowed 10 total in their past two games, five
apiece to Nebraska and Michigan State in
freshman Danny Etling's two starts, and a
number that tells only part of the story of
the heat the rookie's been under.
R Quarterback Braxton Miller's a
fringe Heisman candidate and living
up to his billing this season, but backup
Kenny Guiton has shown that one of the
best QBs in the Big Ten is standing on the
Buckeye sideline.
Guiton, who bailed the Buckeyes out
in their near-upset loss to Purdue last season, started three games earlier this season
while Miller nursed a knee injury and was
The last time...
opponent newsstand
• Cleveland Plain-Dealer: Will Buckeyes again struggle in West Lafayette?
• Columbus Dispatch: Buckeye kicker looks back on pivotal block
• BuckeyeGrove.com: Hyde battering teams into submission
• OhioStateBuckeyes.com: Ohio State press conference transcript
• OhioStateBuckeyes.com: Purdue game notes
Text is linked live to corresponding story
Purdue students and fans spilled onto the Ross-Ade Stadium turf after the Boilermakers' dramatic 26-23 win over Ohio
State on Nov. 12, 2011. The victory allowed the Boilermakers to keep their postseason hopes alive as Purdue finished
Danny Hope's third year with a 7-6 record and postseason victory.
GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 8 • 10
